Governor Is Allowed To Accept Legal Aid

Published: August 26, 2006

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who has spent the last year being investigated for his administration's hiring decisions, will be allowed to create a fund to accept donations to help pay his legal fees from criminal charges that were dismissed, a state ethics panel ruled Friday.

But Mr. Fletcher may not accept money from donors who have business dealings with agencies that he has direct involvement with, the panel, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission, said in an advisory opinion.

Mr. Fletcher, a Republican, must also report all donations to the commission and refuse gifts if there are possible conflicts, the opinion said.

The opinion came a day after Special Judge David E. Melcher approved a settlement in a misdemeanor case in which Mr. Fletcher was charged with violating state hiring laws. A special grand jury has been investigating hiring decisions by the Fletcher administration. Mr. Fletcher was indicted in May on charges of criminal conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.

Mr. Fletcher said in July that he was exploring the fund idea, and his general counsel asked the ethics commission for an opinion weeks ago.

The grand jury began its investigation in June 2005 after a Transportation Cabinet personnel officer turned over hundreds of internal administration e-mail messages and memorandums relating to hiring.